Filter cartridge with valve member and methods

Abstract

A filter cartridge with flow travelling from inside to outside with a flow path in a bottom end cap to enter the cartridge has an anti-drain back valve to prevent cross-contamination to the clean side of the system during filter change-out. The anti-drain back valve moves away from the bottom end cap to allow inlet flow into the cartridge during filtering operation, and when flow ceases, the valve settles to the bottom of the cartridge to plug the flow path during service.

1 . A filter cartridge comprising:
 (a) filter media arranged in a tubular shape defining an open filter interior, the filter media having first and second opposite ends;   (b) a first end cap secured to the first end of the filter media; the first end cap having an opening in communication within the open filter interior;   (c) a second end cap secured to the second end of the filter media;   (d) a central structure in the open filter interior extending away from the first end cap at least partially toward the second end cap; and   (e) an unbiased valve member within the open filter interior; the valve member being movable between a first position and a second position;
 (i) the first position including the valve member covering the opening of the first end cap; and 
 (ii) the second position including the valve member being spaced from the first end cap to expose the opening of the first end cap. 
   
     
     
         2 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the valve member has a surrounding wall defining a through opening. 
     
     
         3 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve member is positioned to be radially constrained by the central structure, 
     
     
         4 . The filter cartridge of  claim 3  wherein the central structure rests within the through opening of the valve member. 
     
     
         5 . The filter cartridge of  claim 3  wherein the central structure comprises a flow tube having a tube wall and flow conduit within the tube wall; the flow tube extending to the second end cap. 
     
     
         6 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve arrangement includes:
 (a) first and second opposite valve ends; and 
 (b) a plate circumscribing and radially extending from the surrounding wall. 
 
     
     
         7 . The filter cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the plate is spaced from each of the first valve end and second valve end; and the plate has a first axial surface and an opposite second axial surface. 
     
     
         8 . The filter cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the plate is centered between the first valve end and the second valve end. 
     
     
         9 . The filter cartridge of  claim 7  further including a first plurality of gussets extending upward and radially away from the first valve end to the first axial surface. 
     
     
         10 . The filter cartridge of  claim 7  further including a second plurality of gussets extending downward and radially away from the second valve end to the second axial surface. 
     
     
         11 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve arrangement has a bulb-shaped member extending from the surrounding wall. 
     
     
         12 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve arrangement has a wedge-shaped member extending from the surrounding wall. 
     
     
         13 . The filter cartridge of  claim 12  further including a plurality of ribs extending from the wedge-shaped member to the surrounding wall. 
     
     
         14 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve arrangement has a toms shaped member extending from the surrounding wall. 
     
     
         15 . The filter cartridge of  claim 4  further including:
 (a) an inlet arrangement radially between an outer portion of the flow tube and an inner portion of the filter media. 
 
     
     
         16 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the central structure comprises a rigid post. 
     
     
         17 . The filter cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the rigid post extends from the first end cap less than 50% of a length of the filter cartridge toward the second end cap. 
     
     
         18 . The filter cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the valve member comprises a non-porous disk having a through-opening; the rigid post being in intimate communication with the through-opening. 
     
     
         19 . The filter cartridge of  claim 18  wherein the disk includes:
 (a) an outer rim; and 
 (b) a seal portion. 
 
     
     
         20 . The filter cartridge of  claim 19  wherein the disk includes:
 (a) first and second opposite axial sides; the first axial side facing the first end cap;
 (i) the first axial side having a circumferential ridge projecting therefrom and spaced radially inboard from the outer rim; and 
 (ii) the first axial side having a seal surface defining the seal portion between the outer rim and the ridge. 
 
 
     
     
         21 . The filter cartridge of  claim 20  further including a plurality of ribs on each of the first and second axial sides axially projecting from the first and second axial sides and radially extending from the through-opening. 
     
     
         22 . The filter cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the valve member includes any one of a bulb seal, wedge seal, or torus-shaped seal. 
     
     
         23 . The filter cartridge of  claim 18  wherein the first end cap includes:
 (a) a tray holding the filter media and having an inner tray wall; 
 (b) a central hub in the first end cap opening; and 
 (c) plurality of spokes extending between the hub and the inner tray wall. 
 
     
     
         24 . The filter cartridge of  claim 23  wherein the rigid post projects from the central hub into the open filter interior. 
     
     
         25 . The filter cartridge of  claim 21  wherein:
 (a) the first end cap includes a tray holding the filter media and having an inner tray wall; and 
 (b) the seal surface of the first axial side engages the inner tray wall. 
 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  further including a first seal member adjacent the first end cap; and wherein the second end cap has a second end cap seal member. 
     
     
         29 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The filter cartridge of  claim 4  wherein the flow tube has a first end adjacent the first end cap; the first end of the flow tube including a flow tube seal member projecting radially therefrom. 
     
     
         36 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An in-tank filter assembly comprising:
 (a) a tank; and   (b) a filter cartridge removably sealed within the tank; the filter cartridge comprising,
 (i) filter media arranged in a tubular shape defining an open filter interior, the filter media having first and second opposite ends; 
 (ii) a first end cap secured to the first end of the filter media; the first end cap having an opening in communication within the open filter interior; 
 (iii) a second end cap secured to the second end of the filter media; 
 (iv) a central structure in the open filter interior extending away from the first end cap at least partially toward the second end cap; and 
 (v) an unbiased valve member within the open filter interior; the valve member being movable between a first position and a second position;
 (A) the first position including the valve member covering the opening of the first end cap; and 
 (B) the second position including the valve member being spaced from the first end cap to expose the opening of the first end cap.